Jim Costa represents California’s 16th Congressional District. He has served the San Joaquin Valley in the U.S. House of Representatives since January of 2005. Raised on a dairy farm in Fresno’s Kearney Park area, Congressman Costa is a third-generation family farmer. As a Member of Congress, Costa has applied his farming background to fighting for Valley water, agriculture, and the economy.
A lifelong resident of the Valley, Costa’s committee assignments allow him to effectively advocate for the district. Costa uses his position on the Natural Resources Committeeto fight for the Valley’s fair share of water. This includes securing funding for dams, working to overturn unfair federal water regulations, and increasing Valley water allocations.
Our Valley’s veterans hail from all backgrounds and represent what is great about our nation. The debt we owe to these selfless individuals and their families is immeasurable and we must always deliver on the promises made to those who stand up to protect our freedom and values.
Every day we have the responsibility to assist our service members and it is my personal mission to help our Valley’s veterans access the benefits they have earned and deserve. Since taking office, I have helped over 1,000 Valley veterans cut through red tape at the Veterans Administration (VA) or other federal agencies to access their health care, social security checks, and even medals. If you or a veteran you know is having difficulty with the VA or federal government, I encourage you to call my office in Fresno at (559) 495-1620.
Along with working with our veterans personally, I have fought to secure funding for programs and pass legislation that will benefit members of our armed services.
One of the greatest achievements for our veterans can be found right here in our Valley. After we fought to secure $92 million in funding and a location, I was able to join with local veterans and leaders to break ground on the first ever Veterans Home in Fresno County. In 2013, we opened the Fresno Veterans Home, which includes a 120-bed nursing home and a 180-bed domiciliary. Construction of the home created nearly 1000 jobs in the Fresno area.
Veterans in the Central Valley know all too well the severe backlogs that plague the Oakland and Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Regional Offices. When the VA announced that not one California benefits office would implement a pilot program to reduce the backlog, I urged the VA to reverse its decision and received a commitment from the VA for additional staff and training at the Oakland office. I also instructed the government watchdog agency to investigate the Los Angeles office and provide recommendations for how to reduce the backlog.
With over one million unemployed veterans in the United States today, it is imperative for us to find ways in which we can ease their transition to civilian life. One of the best ways to facilitate that transition is by helping them find gainful employment. That’s why I was proud to support the VOW to Hire Heroes Act. This law helps our veterans by expanding education and training programs; educating separating service members on how their military skills and training can be easily adapted in civilian life; allowing service members to begin the federal employment process prior to their separation; and providing a veterans tax credit to businesses that hire veterans.
The President also signed another bill that passed the House with my strong support, the Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act of 2011. In 2008, Congress passed the Post-9/11 GI Bill, landmark legislation that restored the promise of a four-year education for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This law builds upon the success of the Post-9/11 GI Bill by increasing the amount of educational assistance available to student veterans attending private universities and colleges.
Because just one veteran falling asleep at night without a permanent roof over his or her head is one veteran too many, I fought to secure $1 million to help homeless and at-risk veteran families in the Valley find sustainable, stable housing. Ending homelessness among veterans and their families once and for all must be a national goal.
On the battlefield, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind. Let it be our pledge that when they return home, we leave no veteran behind.